Gua Sha: How to Use a Gua Sha ~ Benefits and Risks

June 1, 2022 Odiraa

Gua Sha: How to Use a Gua Sha ~ Benefits and Risks

Are There Health Benefits to Gua Sha?
Why gua sha might be good for you
Gua sha tutorial ~ gua sha how to
Gua sha guide: what you need to know
Find out what it is and how it can help the body heal
Gua sha facial tool/massage
The perfect guide to using the gua sha tool, benefits & more

An Overview of Gua Sha before and After

Gua sha is a traditional Chinese healing method in which a trained professional stroke your skin while pressing on it with a smooth-edged tool.

Petechiae are small, red, rash-like dots that appear under your skin as a result of this motion.

Gua sha is a natural alternative therapy in which your skin is scraped with a massage tool to improve circulation.

This ancient Chinese healing technique may provide a unique approach to better health, particularly when it comes to chronic pain.

Gua sha is used to treat chronic pain throughout the body. Herbal medicine, massage, acupuncture, and heat therapy are frequently used in conjunction with this treatment.

Gua Sha Massage

In gua sha, a technician scrapes your skin with short or long strokes to increase blood flow by stimulating microcirculation of the soft tissue.

They use a smooth-edged instrument called a gua massage tool to make these strokes.

After applying massage oil to your skin, the technician scrapes your skin in a downward motion with the tool.

You’ll notice areas of petechiae on your skin at this time.

Most people get gua sha on their:

Back
Neck
Butt
Arms
Legs
It’s even used as a facial technique with a gentle version being used on the face. To determine how much force you can handle, your technician may apply light pressure and gradually increase the intensity.

Method

They’ll use the tool on your skin gently at first. Gradually increase the force of the strokes. They’ll only apply pressure on you to the extent that you’re comfortable with.

This procedure is thought to improve blood flow and give your skin a “lifting” effect, which some belief can help reduce toxins in your body and promote healing.

You could also get gua sha on your face, but it would be a gentler procedure.

Uses

Gua sha is most commonly used for muscle and joint pain relief. Musculoskeletal disorders are conditions that affect the muscles and bones.

Back pain, tendon strain, and carpal tunnel syndrome are just a few examples.

Gua sha is said to boost the immune system and reduce inflammation, according to practitioners.

Gua sha is sometimes used to treat a cold, fever, or lung problems.

Microtrauma refers to minor injuries to the body, such as the bruises caused by gua sha. These trigger a reaction in the body that may aid in the breakdown of scar tissue.

Microtrauma may also help with fibrosis, which occurs when the body heals with too much connective tissue.

IASTM can be used by physiotherapists to treat connective tissue that isn’t moving joints as well as it should.

This issue could be caused by a repetitive strain injury or another ailment. Gua sha is used in conjunction with other therapies like stretching and strengthening exercises.

What are the benefits of gua sha? Advantages of using a Gua sha

Gua sha has been said to help with a variety of health problems. This one-of-a-kind approach to better health has numerous advantages. These are some of them:

Enhanced circulation
Lowered inflammation and lymphatic drainage
Released tension on the face and neck
Improved appearance of fine lines and dark circles

Detailed Explanation

Because gua sha has the ability to reduce inflammation, it’s frequently used to treat chronic pain conditions like arthritis and fibromyalgia, as well as muscle and joint pain.

Gua sha may also help with the following symptoms:

Potential Advantages

Hepatitis B: According to one study, it may help reduce the amount of hepatitis B virus-induced liver inflammation.

However, more research is required before we can be certain.

Migraines

Gua sha appeared to help relieve migraine pain when used as part of a 14-day inpatient treatment.

However, experts believe that more research and clinical trials are needed to prove this.

Tourette’s syndrome is a neurological disorder. Tics, or sudden twitches, are caused by this condition, which affects your nervous system.

A man with Tourette’s syndrome used acupuncture, herbs, lifestyle changes, and gua sha once a week for 35 weeks in one study.

He saw a 70% improvement in his symptoms. However, more evidence is needed to confirm the links.

Neck ache

In one clinical study, 48 people with chronic neck pain were divided into two groups.

People who received gua sha treatment experienced significant pain relief for a short time after a week.

The long-term effects of gua sha on neck pain are unknown to experts.

Perimenopausal symptoms – Women approaching menopause may experience irregular periods, hot flashes, sleep problems, and mood swings.

Women who used gua sha once a week for eight weeks saw their symptoms improve in one study. It’s still a mystery to scientists as to how it works.

Engorgement of the breasts

Breastfeeding can cause your breasts to overfill with milk. They may swell and become painful as a result of this.

Women who were having Breast engorgement due to breast fullness received gua sha treatment while in the hospital and for a few weeks after they returned home in one study.

Those women’s pain subsided, and they were able to breastfeed more easily as a result.

Are there any side effects to gua sha? Potential Risks

Gua sha is generally thought to be safe. However, you may experience bruising or skin discoloration.

It’s possible that you’ll be sore and tender for a short time after your treatment.

If you’re taking blood clot medication, you shouldn’t have it.

If you’re considering trying gua sha, consult your doctor first to ensure that it’s right for you.

Who should stay away from gua sha?

Gua sha should be tolerated well by most people, but if you have circulatory issues or diabetes, inform your practitioner before your session begins.

That way, they’ll know when to adjust the pressure to avoid any problems.

What type of gua sha tool are you looking for?

You can go simple with a small wooden spoon or get a gemstone gua sha tool, according to Sobo. Whatever you choose, make sure it is clean and in good working order.

Gua sha movements ~ why do you move gua sha up or down?

To promote lymphatic drainage

Sweep the gua sha tool along your jawline and up to your ear, starting at the chin. After that, move the tool down the neck and behind the earlobe.

Gua Sha for Tension, Puffiness, and Lymphatic Drainage: How to Use It

To promote lymphatic drainage

Begin at the chin and sweep the gua sha tool up and around your jawline to the ear.
Move the tool from behind the earlobe to the neck.
Do this three times more.

To alleviate stress in the head

Begin at the center of your forehead and work your way out to the temples and hairline.
Repeat as many times as you’d like.

Gua sha for the face

You’ve probably seen people on social media rubbing gua sha stones across their faces and wondered what was up.

Gua sha has been shown to help relieve facial tension, reduce puffiness and inflammation, and even lower sinus pressure.

However, because the musculature of the face is much thinner, you should avoid applying excessive pressure while working on it.

Gua sha directions: Facial Massage Techniques

While a gua sha may appear to be a frightening or perplexing skincare tool, it is actually quite simple to use.

It can be used on the body and scalp in addition to the face; however, avoid using it on bare skin. It’s best to use it with water or oil to protect your skin!

Simply follow the steps below after moisturizing your skin:

Place the curved side of your gua sha against your face. Starting with the neck, gently glide it up and out. To drain fluid, make sure you’re stroking down the neck, not up.
Next, stroke the skin along your jawline, chin, and around your mouth three to five times per area.
Always use short, single-direction strokes rather than back-and-forth movements. If you want to get rid of puffiness, work lightly, then more firmly, to relax muscles.
Gently stroke under the eyes or over any redness with the tool flat against the skin to soothe and de-puff.
Finally, lift the brow bone with small horizontal strokes, or hold and press upwards between the brows to relieve tension.

Gua sha for the body

According to Sobo, gua sha for the body is tissue-dependent, which means you should work in a way that helps you achieve your treatment goals.

“If you have a muscle knot, you should first use your gua sha tool to go across it. To break up all of the adhesions, you’ll want to work perpendicular to the muscle fibers.

Then, to lengthen the muscle fibers and return them to their proper direction, go in the direction of the muscle fibers.

Is gua sha painful? Does the procedure hurt?

You might cringe when you learn that gua sha entails “scraping.”

A practitioner, on the other hand, will not scrape your body like a car windshield in the dead of winter.

Gua sha is a gentle treatment that can intensify depending on the knots that your acupuncturist encounters.

Gua sha vs. Graston Technique: What’s the Difference?

Muscle scraping is a technique used by physical therapists to stretch and relax muscles and scar tissue.

While this is essentially gua sha, it is known in the industry as the Graston Technique.

How often to Gua Sha? gua sha routine

To maintain results, it is recommended that you practice facial Gua Sha at least three times per week.

You can do it in the morning to reduce puffiness or at night to relax your facial muscles before sleeping.

Setting aside time to relax and pamper your skin can help you feel less anxious and more rested and pampered.

When Did Gua Sha Become Popular in the States?

First and foremost, let’s be clear: Gua Sha has always been popular. “Gua Sha has been widely practiced and used by ordinary people all over Asia for centuries,” says the American wellness industry as a whole.

It was the first form of treatment for early-onset illnesses, and it was both cost-effective and effective.”

Why Is Gua Sha So Popular Now?

It could be due to the fact that it is so simple. “We use so much technology,” Caglia says, “it’s nice to take a break and use an effective, soothing tool that doesn’t require charging.”

How quickly will I see results with a Gua Sha

You’ll notice results almost immediately when it comes to puffiness and tension relief.

However, we recommend that you use your gua sha at least twice a week to reap the full benefits of this tool.

After a few weeks of consistent use, you’ll notice a more lifted and toned appearance.

Summary

Overall, this ancient yet popular trend is far more than a passing fad.

Get ready to begin your Gua Sha journey from the comfort of your own home with these lovely stones.

Keep yourself safe and get scrapping!